Baby #2. What to Buy?

Hi J.,

Congratulations! When I had my baby shower for #2, I also had the essentials-- What I really ended up needing was the various diaper sizes, wipes, baby bjorn and double stroller. I have always carried my babies, but the baby bjorn was a lifesaver for me because my baby has a serious reflux problem. Other than clothes,diapers,wipes, bottom cream etc. It was nice to have a few sentimental items like special blanket,booties that someone made. My suggestion is when asked what you need--diapers,wipes,double stroller if you don't have one yet. (I have the graco duo glider and it works great-- Best of luck to you!

Molly

Hi J.-
Congratulations on baby#2. Definitely a double stroller. I had the Mac Twin Triumph. Ok, but barely got 1 year of use out of it until my older daughter was too big for it. Then I purchased a Sit/Stand Joovy - much better. The double side by sides are very difficult to manuever in stores and get through doors. But the front/back tandem models are sooo long!

Sleeping arrangements? We borrowed a bassinet and baby2 slept in our room until our older child transitioned to the big girl bed (they are 20 mos apart) at age 2. Now they share a room. Older daughter in a full bed and the "baby" (not a baby anymore since she is 2) in the crib that converts to a toddler bed.

May want to rethink the diaper bag. Think of all the stuff you will need to carry with you - with a newborn and a toddler. I recently decided to forgo the diaper bag altogether and am just using a backpack for everything.

Good luck with baby #2!!

Congrats on baby #2! Personally, I liked the Graco-DuoGlide stroller. It wasn't a huge expense and it fit the carseat & toddler nicely. For my twins later it worked well too. Now my older two are out of the stroller and the twins have a side-by-side Jeep. Again, we didn't go with huge expense because they really aren't in them very long, but we bought ones that were sturdy enough to last a few years. For the rest, I'd just get diapers & clothes. You probably still have a baby bath. Some of your friends may want to get a small gift for your daughter as a 'big sister' present, that helps them feel special and a big part of the new event.

Take care & have a great time at your shower. We were given a shower with each of our 5 children, in celebration of the new life too, I think it is a great idea, not just a ploy to get gifts! People can be rude. Each child is as special as the last or the next. One of my showers was a 'diaper shower' as I had 2 girls and was expecting another, but my friends still wanted to have a celebration. I got tons of diapers, which are always necessary!

It is a fun time, enjoy yourself.

D.

A sling was a lifesaver for me! That way I had my hands free for the toddler and baby was happy.

Greetings J.,
I wish you heartfelt joy over both of your little angels.
I know that when I had that age space between my children we learned that the toddler needed somthing special so they didn't feel left out or replaced. Also her little needs are starting to make great canges in the next 4 months so if you don'tnalready have Leggo's I would suggest that you get them and have them wen the baby comes. They can be interactive as well as creative and my children and now Grandchildren are useing the same ones! Also those hard pages books were important for our reading time while I was holding the new baby. For my daughter in law she has found that the little Enstein videos and the Veggie Tales are wonderful becasue they are teaching and colorful so it's not like mindless tv.
Something I did for my 5 children and now for the grandchildren when a new baby comes-- is make them matching nightgowns. In fact I made all the children matching pj's so they could wear it withthe baby and helped in the bonding -- it's easy but if you don't sew you might ask a family member that does to do it for you. Have you thought about where you are having your little one sleep when the new baby comes- now might be a great time to consider a toddler bed so she is used to not being in the crib as much. I know that raising your children is the greatest work you will ever do in life, so enjoy all the adventure and twists and turns it will take you on. God Bless, Nana Glenda

Ask for diapers if you are using disposables! You can specify the brand or you can take them and exchange them later...and you can exchange them for the rright size. A friend of mine got enough diapers at her shower that she didn't have to buy any for the whole first year!! If you don't already have one, a wagon with seats is a nice alternative to the double stroller. It's hard with a second shower... usually you have all the big-ticket things from the first baby. Bigger clothes (not just newborn stuff) are also nice to have if you have the closet space to keep them.

Congratulations!!

Boy toys, boy books, boy towels/wash clothes/bath toys???

J.,

You mentioned that you have "all the major things", and your first baby is 18 months old. Its has been a long time since I was given a shower (and it was a big one combined with my birthday); but at that time if the second, third etc. baby came along, Unless there was huge gap (i.e. 5 yrs.+) in-between babies, second showers weren't given.

In no way do I mean to offend just wondering if now its now considered "the norm" to give a shower for each child? Would like to hear from other Mama's.

Blessings.....

You may not need a double stroller as much as you think you do. You're oldest will be two when the baby is born and I've found that they often want to walk more than they want to be in the stroller. For my first two I didn't have a double stroller, I got one for my younger two and did use it for several months off and on but I bought a really cheap one because I didn't really use it that much. Just an idea, as it's too bad to have something really expensive not used that much.

I had a Graco side-by-side double stroller and LOVED it. Both seats recline so kids can sit up or sleep independently. It is also very light weight and MUCH easier to maneuver than a front-to-back and has a huge basket that runs under both seats. There was not one door we did not fit through, although the occasional over-stuffed store (fire hazard anyway) would be inaccessible. For outside I left a double jogger in the garage. It was made by InStep which is an affordable brand since I do not actually jog but wanted the all-terrain access for walks in the woods. It was too heavy to lug into the malls. I took 45 minute walks daily with my kids and brought them lunch in a divided container (or a bottle for baby) so they were used to the stroller from day one. My oldest still occasionally sat in the jogging stroller up to age 8!! So it depends on your kids if they like to sit how much use you will get out of it. I still used the double strollers with one child and put my shopping in the extra seat. Another gift you could ask for is several sessions of pre-paid cleaning service since you will have lots less time for that! Congratulations.

I really like your tradition of getting together. With as busy as everyone is, it is so important to make and take time to celebrate all good things. Very nice!!!

If you don't already have a sling or front pack, it is really nice, especially with the second child so your hands are free for the older child...

If you get a sit and stand stroller - get joovy not babytrend. much lighter and easier to manuever.
We have a girl and now a baby boy... we just got boy blankets and burp clothes, etc... but used all of the other equipment we had from our daughter.
When he is older you will need to buy trucks vs. dolls :0)

My boys are 2 years apart and I thought I had everything from the first one for the second. What I realized as the weeks went by, is that I didn't necessarily want to share items between kids or the first was still using the items. I bought more wash cloths, more blankets (b/c my first was still using the smaller blankets), second baby monitor, new nail clippers, etc. Just think of what you needed for your first and if she is still using it, then you'll need another set. I used my double stroller ALL the time, up until my youngest was about 2 or 2.5 - it just makes life easier when they are contained. I also used a sling (newbord) or front carrier (infant) - especially at the grocery store: 2 yo in the card, baby in the carrier.

Various sized diapers are great. At a shower I went to that has a toddler and was pregnant with # 2, for everyone that came with a thing of diapers they got entered in for a door prize. If anything it will offset the cost of 2 in diapers.